Moore Says V8SuperTourer Race Start Rules Unworkable

M3
team member Richard Moore says the current rules governing
the start of a race are unworkable and need to be reviewed.
His reaction comes after the V8SuperTourer weekend racing at
Pukekohe that saw six drivers penalised, including Moore,
Greg Murphy and Angus Fogg whose first ever win was
disallowed as a result.

Currently the starting rules state
that grid positions must be maintained until you pass the
start finish line, in race two on Sunday 23 March the
starter released the pack well before the start line which
he is entitled to but pole sitter, Ant Pedersen failed to
accelerate when the lights went green. As a result of his
missed start six of the front cars fanned out to avoid
hitting him, all these lead group of cars were given a 10
second penalty.

Moore says, “One of the things I like
about the V8Supertourers competition is it is highly
regulated to make sure parity and safety is paramount. The
rules relating to starts were sensibly modified after a
similar incident at Taupo last year but in the process
appears to have inadvertently created a new problem. As of
now the start rule just doesn’t make sense, if we hadn’t
broken our positions and gone around Ant we most certainly
would have rear ended him and other drivers. It would have
created huge issues, been dangerous and effectively been the
end of the racing for many drivers. The rule needs to be
updated.”

Moore says while he and his team mates (Murphy
and Haber) also copped ten second penalties, it is Angus
Fogg that he felt for.

“We all want that elusive win;
Angus drove a smart, tactical race from the start and to
lose it based on a ruling that is a joke and goes against
keeping drivers safe, must be hugely disappointing. It makes
no sense.”

The final race put a smile back on Moore’s
face with M3 picking up their first ever clean sweep of a
race with Murphy securing his eighth win, young Aussie
rookie, Haber taking second place and Moore picking up third
position.

“There was non-stop communication with the pit
about whether we should come in and change tyres but the
move to stay with wets paid off, it was a great way to end
the weekend.”

V8ST Sporting regulations
state:6.7.4 Starting Procedures:1.
(1) Approaching the completion of the
final formation lap as described above, the Safety Car shall
extinguish its yellow lights and exit the track at pit lane
entrance.1. (a) The pole
position car must maintain a constant speed of between 70
and 80kph until the signal to start is given. The red
light(s) will be extinguished to indicate a start.2.
(b) From the start signal the vehicle in
pole position shall accelerate to racing speed.3.
(c) Grid positions must be maintained, no
car may break formation until that car has passed the
start/finish line.For the overall results
http://www.v8st.co.nz/results/points.html

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